Knitting machine



Jan. 8, 1946. CLOUTlER. 2,392,312

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1943 e Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG].

AW /V7012:

lzmae/lf 610mm; 25' A771).

Jan. 8, 1946, A. N. CLOUTiER 2,392,312

KN ITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet '2 [VI/515177712.- flier/ 10PM 660017212, By C Jan. 8, 1946, A. N. CLOUTIER 2,392,312

. KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1943 e SheetS-Sheet-S Z/VVENTOE/ Byfl/ 6, 474 I v @4777.

Jame/[1620112212,

Jan. 8, 1946. A. N. CLOUTIER KNITTING MACHINE.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4\ Filed May 29, 1943 jQ/ziwz A7792 Jan. 8, 1946. A, N c ou 2,392,312

minwme MACHINE Filed May 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F/Q/g.

v J m r [NYE/1170B flmm/Vzamsg Patented Jan. 8, 1946 KNITTING MACHINE Arthur N. Cloutier, Lonsdale. R. 1., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts v I Application May 29, 1943, Serial No. 489,002

8 Claims.

This case concerns aninvention in a method of knitting on knitting machines of the circular, independent needle'type such as are used for knitting hosiery. The machines to-which this invention particularly applies knit seamless hosiery such asfor ladies wear having a so-called inturned welt. In addition to that welt, the remaining parts of the stockingmay be knitted in a knownor in any other manner.

In practicing the invention a cylinder and dial are employed, thecylinder having latch needles which-function in conjunction with cooperating sinkers to knit plain fabric. The dial, driven to rotate in synchronism with the cylinder, has a plurality of bits-or 100p holding and transferring instrument's. These bits function in pairs and there are one half as many pairs as there are needles in the cylinder. In other words, there is one pair of bits for every other needle.

At the start, yarn is taken by certain of the needlesand is also taken over the bits and these bits hold the loops drawn over them until such time'- jack or other selective controlling means so that" those needles may be raised to take yarn or to take a transferred loop without raising the remaining or intermediate needles.

This control of alternate needles and an accompanying shagging movement makefit unnecessary-to have a double jack control. also allows raising only those needles which are to take loops.

As a result of that, the. bits may be caused to spread their loops to a greater extent than is possible by other methods, and accordingly, trans ferring is'eifected with a greater degree of securmy. 4 1 .i

In addition to the above certain-improvements in the 't'ransferbits themselves will be evident from the following description of the mechanism and its operation with reference panying'figu-res ofdrawings.

In the figures of drawings;

to the accom- Fig.1 is an elevation; certain parts being shown in section, illustrating the ging' means.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 1. Figs.'-3, '4 and 5-are detailed views of the driving dialdriving and shogand shogging mechanism in--its different posi--' tions.

- Fig. 6-is asec'tion through part of the cylinder and dial showing construction of those elements, also a needle, a sinker and a transfer bit. 1 Fig. 7 is a plan view of transfer bits as their loops of yarn are to be transferred by them.

Figs. 8 and 9 are .views showing transfer bits and needles as they have drawn yarn preparatory to startingknitting an inturned welt.

Fig. 10 shows transferbits as a loop is held in position for the projection of a needle through that loop.

Fig. 11 is a view similarto Fig. 10 but at a later point in the cycle after the needle has been projected between thebits and through the loop. I

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but showing the manner in which the loop has been shogged over for the reception of the proper cylinder needle. i I

Fig. 13 is a detailed view of a sector of needles and bits adjacent the feeding point at which time yarn'is being taken by-the needles and over the points.

. ring cam when Fig. 14 is a similar detail of a sector of needles and points, but at the opposite side of themachine at which transferring takes place.

Fig. .15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing a modification in which the butts on bits are dif-.

ferently constructed, also a different type cam is used.- q i Fig. 16 is a plan view of dial cams and the path-.- way of butts on transfer bits.. 1

. Fig. 17 is. a section through the dial showing transfer. bits fully retracted.

Fig. 18 is a detailgreatly enlarged and showing a modified form of transfer bits and the cam which functions withthose bits. 7

Figs. 19 and 20 show one transfer bit of a pair. Figs. 21 and 22 show the opposite transfer bit employed to make up a pair.

Fig. 23 is an isometric view showing the man.- ner in whichbits are controlled by the transferthose bits .are constructed as in Fig. 24-is adetail of a few needles and bits showing projection of needles through orxbetween the bits at transfer.

Fig. 25 is a conventional illustration of the fabric as it is theoretically pictured.

Fig. 26 is a conventional illustration of the fabric greatly enlarged by showing an inturned welt practically as the same would appear when completed. I v

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the invention has been illustrated in a typical hosiery knitting machine having a rotatable type needle cylinder l, a sinker head 2 and a dial generally indicated by numeral 3. The usuallatch type needles 4 are mounted for reciprocation in slots in the cylinder and cooperating therewith, sinkers 5 are controlled by the sinker cams of a sinker cam cap 6. These sinkers are guided in the sinker head and also within a stitch ring 1.

- A ri .r ns.. is in d atthe back 91 h; machine and performs the usual functions of' that particularelement, A plurality of yarn feeding levers 9 are hinged in the extension In of the.

carrier ring, one of those levers being shown in active position.

The dial is driven by gearing shown ..in Fig s 1 and 2, also through a jshqgging"me chanis;n

which will be described in detail later. A shaft 1' H is rotatable in bearings within bracket I2 and that shaft carries at its lower end agearlldwh ibh meshes with a ring gear l4 fixed at the outer edge of the sinker head 2. At the upper end of the 'shait a bevel gear 1.5. meshes-with :a second bevel gear iifi :ona horizontal shaft 121. Ahoriat 50. That lever has a horizontal offset portion fijywlgich is engaged by the lever 40 whenever that lever is to be released to be drawn upwardly byfs'pifiiig 433.] spring 43 is of suflicient h'to'move'tne lever 40 as desired and also to apply "the rake 48 against the drum 46 so thatewhen ithe'yshogging movement occurs, the

zont'alishaft IE1. is freely rotatable in a bearing la in :thebracket 9, said bracket is being fixed toLthe carr-i'er .rizrigzBand also-serving as abea'ring for the second 1vertical$haftavi1ich :carries the dial. The 'dialiitself zis keyed -.to ,a central sli'aE-tlflirqtafible wi thin fa sleeve '2], the said sleeveb'eing clamped in 3a boss -22 extending from the bracket l9. fl l'iessleeve :iisz'iotirotatableand has attache a-trits lower-slimline cam :'-mechanism for the dial. The spindle .ZZDZ-ha :fixd theretoia .bevel gear .23 imesheswith a similar bevel :gear 214 on toihesha'ft. :1 I a d :the ,g'ear lb and :the dial are fixed to the shaft 20.

sNow :r'e-fer-ringv to Figs. 3, 4 .and'5in addition air'late' 25 which has an extension Zfiand projecting lugs 21 and 28. This plate is fixed by meansifo'f screws to La collar :29 which is in turn clamped to: the :slr'aftfl. :An adjustable screw 30 is threaded intothe lugi-fl and a similar screw SEILis threaded into ithe opposite "lug :28. Locking nuts chold these in :any adjusted apositi'on.

E'Ilne extension 26 has pivoted are: a latch 33 having a point 34 and an extending end 35. This :lathl-isimaintainediin :engagement with a projection 36 on the sclollair -B 'l except at :such tiniesrais the .Jatch :is stripped. =A- 's-prin'g 38 maintains the latch in that-position, :Eigs. 22am 4, except when theend flaofia' lever 40 pivoted at 424' anoved to press against the end 35 of the latch for disengaging i-t; At that time, as I shown inlFig; 3,.the point :34 of "th'e latch will be swung outwardly against the tension of spring 3'8'and the drive will no longer be th i ough th'e latch, but will doesabcomplished by engagement of-the screw 3-I twithiprojection fi vvhich extends down'war'dly firbmthefool-laria'l, or azprojecti onfrom that collar. The collar 31 is really anextension or hub of l-the .zgea-r 15, ori m'ay be made I separately and theitwoirigidlyfattached. a I

After disconnecting the latch -as above described-ith'emrive t'ake's place pdsitivly, butli-n a shogged 0r displaced rlatiohship isp-that different 'n'eedles will ali g'n witn lo'it's than --alig-ned with themwriginally. By adjustment, the shaggir'ig movement ma be for an extent cr one needle or more or may be of any desired degree driven mechanism will immediately be retarded to drive through the lug 28 rather than by means c the lat h. and tbep ciectionsa The brake .19 fla ianade 502i ieather'orlother uite 1e f i ti n z a ri l.

Asffle g ie E ta-ted emateenes 'oi'zthezneedles 4. moi aided w th acks. and, .amay be controlled eparatelyrom the intermediate. needles. There re two term s wh maybe used .andithe ee iera rn i cinleso e.- rentinn app y n which t. e employed. The hits ere-arra ed impairs ir d alslots; the dial Sa d ane centitoi ed byca s attacnediasis the ea: and eeapableei bei .m ed at approp .e mes :sloza toygulde T I th bi s .q esi edmat wa s...--As shown Ezelfii dia can niesa ams l s and 54 are ked' nipqs il t e i Er es in ne m but s th bi sting cam and p oi gn thso -travel n re i .g

oourse othe adenine. te 1F beins he opp si 4 1%. a main :91 b t res; and saddened.

ha s, ut itais tobe nd the r half short butts. The distinctionyin The distinction is clearly shown in Figs. 7 and8 aforathe in which a pair of bits are shown, those in Fig. 7 being spread to present'a loop to a needle, while those of Figs. 8 and 9 are illustrated in a position in which they take on yarn as at starting the inturned welt. The butt 60 iswider than the butt 63 and the reason for that distinction will be pointed out in a later paragraph. At the start of the inturned welt a selvage is first knitted and then a course of loops 64 are drawn overthe hits, the alternate needles d being raised to take and draw the yarn while the points 59 and 62 of the bits are projected outwardly as in Fig. 13.

In Fig. 13 the yarn feeding lever 9 is feeding a yarn to alternate ones of the needle 4, those alternate needles being raised by appropriate cams acting on jacks. Th'e bits which have been moving in an inner pathway such as the pathway 55, Fig. 16, have their butts engaged by cam 55 which has been moved to active position. That cam 55 moves the bits outwardly so that their points assume the position shown in Fig. 13 and in the enlarged views, Figs. 8 and 9. That projection of bits is not suflicient to spread the points more than a slight amount. In other words, the bits have not been moved out of their slots far enough so that the tendency for the points to spring apart can be fully exerted;

The bits are moved outwardly with the leading bit 58 being projected out ahead of the accompanying bit 6|. However, when the outermost point of projection has been reached under the influence of cam 55, those bits each assume a uniform or evenly projected position. They travel in a concentric path until the cam portion 66 of the cam 55 is reached. At that time the bits are drawn inwardly, the leading bit 58 moving in well ahead of the accompanying bit 6| of each pair. After at least a full course of loops 64 have been takenby the bits, the" cam 55 will be withdrawn and all bits will remain in the position to which they are moved by cam 56. As many courses as desired are then formed by knitting on all needles until a desired length of fabric for a doubled or inturned welt is completed. A projecting finger is to be inserted between the dial and cylinder needles during the knitting of the inturned welt so as to push the fabric inwardly thereby to create a proper fold and avoid interference with or piling up of fabric at the needles. 1

After a sufficient extent of fabric. has been knitted for an inturned welt, a transfer-back to the needles is effected. During the part of the cycle described to this point, the drive for the dial has been through the latch point 34 and the projection'36 as illustrated in Fig. 4, otherwise, in a direct or unsh'ogged'driving relationship.

The knitting is continued during transfer, but cams 56 and are moved into active position whereupon the bits are pushed outwardly as shown in Fig. 14 at which time alternate needles will again be raised by the jack mechanism and appropriate cams. The dial is also shogged just preparatory to transferring since, as shown' in- Fig, 13, the needles come up between-or to the sides of pairs of bits whereas at thetransfer,

needles rise through each pair of bits to remove the loop therefrom.

cam 56 pushes the bits outwardlyto fullest extent and at that time, needles are not raised quite as high as the lower edg of the bits, see

Fig. 10. As the bits reach their outermost point they spring apart as shown in Figs. 7 and 12 extending the loop held on their points sotha't m the shogged position of the dial, the needles may then'be moved upwardlythrough the loop and through each pair of bits, see Fig. 11. l 7

After the'needles have beenmoved upwardly and haveengaged within their respective loops, bits are withdrawn by the cam surface '61 which serves to-move them partway in and thereafter cam 51 returns them to the innermost pointor pathway 55. The reason for having butts of different widths such as the butts and 631s that as is evident in Fig-.' 14, the leading bit of each pair will be moved inwardly ahead of or in advance of the other bit of that pair. Sinc the butt 60 is of additional width, and that additional width is toward the point of the bit, the

incline of the cam 51 acts inconl'unction therewith to start movement of that bit which has -a wider butt well in advance of the accompanying bit having a butt 63. The resulting action causes the point 59 on the leading one-of eacli'pair of bits to drop its loop first and thereafter the point- 62 on the second one of each pair of bits will. release its loop. This prevents pinching the yarn at the point of transfer as is sometime experienced if the bits are retracted together,

Asshown in Fig. 24 only the. alternate ones of the needles 4 are raised. 1 Since the dial is shogged after taking loops on the bits and prior to transferring from them, it is possible to raise the same group of alternate needles and thus only one set of jacks and provision for raising them is required. Of course, if the shogging were not provided, two sets of jacks or the equivalent would be necessary for raising one group of needles during taking on and the opposite group at transfer. According to the practice hereto fore in effect, all needles have been raised at both places so that while only one means of selection or one provision for raising all needles at each point was called for, it was not possible to spread the pairs of bits to such an extent as is possible by the system herein described. The result is that in transferring back on to needles, there is about twice as much room for'raising the needles to which each loop is' to be transferred without missing that loop. The transfer is thus made exceedingly safe.

In Fig. 12 one needle and a pair of transfer bits are illustrated and these are shown aft-er the shogging movement has taken place and while the loop'held on the points has'been extended laterally to a maximum degree. a

Now referring to Figs. 15, 18 and 23 a modified form of butt to be used on one of the bits and the cam employed therewith is shown. In Fig. 18

- the bit 6| has a butt 63' which as can be seen,

is beveled or notched as at 68. r The corresponding butt onthe other one of the bits is of the same width at its upper edge but has no notch. The cam 61' is beveled where the butts first start. to contact'it and the angle of that bevel grows less acute until the edge of the cam is vertically disposed at the point 69.

The action is such that at the transfer side of themachine, the leading bits having rectangular shaped butts 60 are drawn inwardly by the .point of the beveled cam 61'. Due to the presence'of the notch 68 in the butts 63', the second one of each pair of bits is not moved in so quickly nor to so great an extent. This allows the loop being transferred to be withdrawn from the point of the leading one of each pair of bits first and" thereafter to be quickly slipped off the secondadjacent the point 69. At'that point and theretally disposed shaft between said first mentioned and dial shaft and gearing connecting the cylinder and the first mentioned shaft, that shaft and the horizontal shaft, and then the horizontal and dial shaft so that the dial may rotate in unison with the cylinder, the said connection between the first mentioned and the horizontal shaft including a gear driven by a releasable connection including a latch, means for disengaging said latch and other means for driving said gear in shogged or retarded relationship when said latch has been disengaged, a brak drum on said dial shaft and a brake shoe operable upon said brake drum when the latch is disengaged as above stated.

4. In a knitting machine for knitting an inturned welt, a dial, bit within slots in said dial, said bits having points and operating butts,-cams in the dial for actuating the bits by contact with their butts, said bits being arranged in pairs and being so constructed that the leading one of each pair of bits has its butt of additional width as compared to the butt on the second bit of each pair, the additional width projecting toward the point of the bit.

5. In a knitting machine for knitting an inturned welt, a dial, bits within slots in said dial said bits being arranged in pairs and havin points and operating butts, cams in the dial for actuating the bits by contact with their butts, said bits being arranged in pairs and being so constructed that the leading one of each pair of bits has its butt of additional width as compared to the butt on the second bit of each pair, the additional width extending in a direction toward the point of the bit, and said bits being of resilient material and bent so that when projected outwardly of their slots to a predetermined extent, the points will separate thereby to spread loops held on those points.

said bits having points and operating butts, cams in the dial for actuating the bits by contact with their butts, said bits being arranged in pairs and being so constructed that the leading one of each pair of bits has a rectangular shaped butt and that the second of each pair has a butt of the same width as the rectangular shaped butt of the leading bit, but having a notch in that butt engageable by a cam correspondingly beveled.

'7. In a knitting machine for knitting an inturned welt, a dial, bits within slots in said dial, said bits having points and operating butts, cams in the dial for actuating the bits by contact with their butts, said bits being arranged in pairs and being so constructed that the leading one of each pair of bits has a butt the cam engaging edge of which is at right angles to the length of the bit, the second of said bits having a butt the topmost part of which constitutes a cam engaging edge correspondingly positioned to the cam engaging edge of the first mentioned butt and being notched below that point to engage with a beveled cam, the construction being such that the cam is'beveled to a maximum extent to correspond with the angle of the notch at the point first engaged when contacted by a butt, said bevel decreasing as the butt travels along the cam to a point where the butt engaging surface of the cam is at right angles to the length of a bit.

8. In a knitting machine of the type described a dial, transfer bits in slots in said dial, each said bit having a point and a butt, said butts being engageable with cams movable in the dial, certain of said butts having a notch and at least one of th cams being beveled to correspond with the notch in the butts.

ARTHUR N. CLOUTIER. 

